Despite a near flawless start to the season in all competitions, there is a major issue for the Bavarian giants to address. A Bayern Munich left-back problem has hit the team, with all four players who naturally play the position now out due to injury.
With Hiroki Ito and Alphonso Davies both out with long-term issues since the spring, the two others suffered injuries within the last two matches.
Raphaël Guerreiro sustained a minor abdominal muscle injury in last Saturday’s win over Hamburger SV, while Josip Stanišić suffered a partial rupture of the medial ligament in his right knee during the victory against Chelsea on Wednesday.
The Few Options Available to Solve the Bayern Munich Left-Back Problem
While fan favourite Konrad Laimer showed in that last game that he is certainly capable of playing the position, the Austrian international generally plays right back, while his preferred position is actually in the midfield anyway.
Laimer is a true workhorse who does whatever is necessary in the service of his team, but he should not be seen as a long-term solution for the Bayern Munich left-back problem. The best thing one could hope for is a quick recovery from Guerreiro.
The former Portuguese international barely had any minutes early on this season, which makes it all the more tragic that he got hurt, on a rare occasion, he did take the field. But with Davies, Ito, and Stanišić all out for the foreseeable future, he will be the only option to fill that void.
Guerreiro also appeared to have been one of the candidates for a possible sale this past summer transfer window; now we can say that, thankfully, he remains with the club.
For Saturday’s match-up against TSG Hoffenheim, however, Laimer appears to be the only option. That would mean fringe player Sacha Boey would suddenly also become the lone option at right back.
While it has to be said that Boey played very well for once, after coming on against Chelsea, he generally is not on the level required from a Bayern Munich player. So, for him to be the only right-back option is a frightening prospect in itself.
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A Tired, Old Topic
The Bayern left-back problem brings us back to the main topic when it comes to issues at Bayern Munich. Namely, the depth of the squad, which brings us back to the origin of that problem, the infighting between the club’s leadership, the generational battle, if you will.
Frankly, we have talked enough about those two subjects in previous articles to the point that there remains little to be said on them.
The team have started the season well; there is no doubt about that. However, Hoffenheim, Saturday’s opposition, also began well in their own right. Coach Christian Ilzer’s side could be a tough nut for the Bavarians to crack.
They certainly could become the first beneficiaries of the Bayern left-back problem. But they certainly wouldn’t be the last, considering that the Bavarians are up against Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund next month.
That is to say nothing of the Champions League opposition they face later in the autumn. Problems are definitely coming for Vincent Kompany’s side.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Lackovic
Recording Date: 13.09.2025